Improvement in fireman s helmet and dress



J. BECHTOLD. Firemans Helmet an'dDress.

No. 196,862. Patented Nov. 6, 1877.

N.`PETE.RS. FHOTD-UTHOGRAPHEH;WASHINGTON. D C,

UNITED 4 S'Iriclms PA'rEN'r 1 Ormea JULrUs BncHToLD, or fenooKLYN, NEW YORK. j

specification foi-ming Vpart or Letters Patent No. 196,862, dated Noviaiibefrc, '1377; appiicauonhieafkyj To allwhom it may concern:

Beit known that I,"JU`LrUs BEcH'roLD, of'

Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a newv and Improved Firemans Helmet and Dress, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a perspective View of my improved firemans helmet and dress. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal central section of the helmet. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the metallic frame of the helmet. Fig. 4 is a top view of the same; Fig. 5, a front view of the face-plate used on the helmet; and Fig. 6, a cross-section on the line x, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a face view of the jacket, Fig. 8, a transverse central section on the line y y, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side view of a water-sprinkling attachment used on the helmet; and Fig. 10, a front view, partly in section, of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to various improvements on a firemans helmet and dress, constructed to supply remen with fresh air when engaged in extinguishing re, without impairing their freedom of motion, and so that they may freely visit places lled with smoke or foul air withoutdanger of being suffocated.

The invention consists in the various details of construction hereinafter more fully pointed out.

In the drawing, the letter A represents the improved remans jacket. B is the helmet. The jacket A is made, preferably, of rectan gular shape, as shown in Fig. 7, and is provided at its ends with suitable straps and buckles, or button-holes and buttons, so that it can be fastened around the body of the fireman. It is also provided with proper openings at its upper part forl the arms, and with shoulder-` straps a. a to support it on the wearer. j

The jacket is made of a double thickness of rubber or other suitable air-tight material, properly connected at the ends, (see Fig. 8,) so as to form an airspace within the entire jacket. This space may be filled with compressed air through a pipe, b, that may be connected with v with air, to snugly fit around/*the body of thel I.

reman, I provide it with `two or more holes,

c c, which render it more yielding, but these holesdo not allow the air to escape.

The helmet B is made of a size to completely cover the head of the wearer, and to leave an air-space around the head. It is composed of a suitable metallic frame, d, covered with can vas, and lined on the inner side with rubber cloth or other air-tight material e. The'frame d is provided with pads ff, Fig. 3, by which it is -supported on the shoulders of the fireman. The covering or lining. e is, at its lower part, contracted, (see Fig. 2,) so as to close air-tight around theA neck of the wearer. g is a pipe firmly attached to the helmet B, and communicating at one end with the inner side of the helmet, preferably at the front thereof, while its other end communicates with the air-space of the jacket A, such jacket being provided with a pipe, h, that can be coupled to the pipe g..

By a cock, ,'in the pipe g, or a cock in the pipe h, or both, the flow of air from the jacket to the helmet may be regulated. In this way a constant and regular supply of fresh air can be kept up from the jacket to the interior of the helmet.

When the air in the jacket is exhausted it The helmet B is properly held on the head of the fireman by a pair of straps or bands, lq

k, that cross each other, as shown in Fig. 2. These straps also prevent the metallic frame of the helmet from injuring the wearer, and hold the helmet elevated to form a proper airchamber above the head.

It will be seen that by this improved appal ratus the fireman will be supplied with a constant stream of fresh air, which will enable him to visit places filled with smoke or foul air. At the same time the apparatus will not impede,.to `any material extent, the-freedom of his movements, i as-tl1e air-j acket.f tsIhisfbody tachment to the helmet for sprinkling the same with water, and preventingA it from catching1 lire. This attachment, which may, however, be omitted, consists of a perforated pipe, l, passing over the hel'metfromback to front, and communicating with perforated branch" pipes m m, that embracethe sides of the helmet. Allthese pipes are perforated opposite the helmet, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The main pipe l communicates at one end with a water-hose, fn, Fig. 9, while the other end is connected with a nozzle, o. In this way the waterusedl by the 'fireman for extinguishing the fire is.-` caused to pass over and around the helmet, a'ndwill, through the perforationsof the `pipes lm,sprink1e the same and* keep it moist.`

I'. prefer; to 4have. the pipesm l pass also through or dischargel Waterfiilt'o.A the hollow ofthe face-plate j to keep it cool. If this.

water-sprinkling attachment is not used the face-plate need not be made hollow.

I claim as my invention- 1'. The hollow jacket A, made of a double thickness of air-tight material, and provided Withfholes for` the arms,and .with the openings c c beneath the same, to cause it to fit the wearer, substantially as and for the purpose ,herein shown and described. n 2; The helmet B, provided' with the inner straps or bands k k, which hold it elevated 4to form a proper air-chamber above the head,

substantially as specified.

JULIUS BEenmoLD:

Witnesses ERNEST C. WEBB, F. v. BRIESEN.' 

